Chapter 82 – Even Clingier Than Ranran

Lin Xiaowen seemed to always be flirting with Cheng Yishu, constantly testing the limits of his restraint, nearly driving him mad. Yet, just as Cheng Yishu’s dangerous aura grew stronger, Lin Xiaowen would step back with a calm expression, scrutinize him seriously, and say,
“Da Lingzi said you got hurt? Where did you get injured?”
Cheng Yishu was taken aback, thinking this little woman must be doing this on purpose…
An idea flashed through his mind. He immediately bent over, clutching his knee, and pulled a pained face, saying,
“That’s right, I tripped over the track at the set today, banged my knee against an apple box… It hurts so much!”
Lin Xiaowen thought his expression was exaggerated, but worried he might actually be hurt, so she held him up, half-believing, half-doubting, and muttered,
“How come you didn’t seem in pain just now? You had energy to spin around, and now suddenly it hurts?”
“Well, that’s because I got so excited seeing you, I forgot about the pain for a moment!” Cheng Yishu smiled, his eyes twinkling.
“Such a smooth talker!”
Lin Xiaowen finally believed him, and with concern, she said softly, “Let me help you to the sofa, so I can check how bad the injury is!” She glanced toward the door.
Da Lingzi said she was going to buy medicine—why hasn’t she come back yet?
Cheng Yishu was wearing light gray lounge pants and a white T-shirt, looking clean and comfortable. For once, his hair wasn’t slicked back with gel or styling cream.
With his hair lying naturally, Cheng Yishu lacked the usual cold, aloof air, but instead gained a gentle, boy-next-door charm.
He sat obediently as Lin Xiaowen rolled up his trouser leg, suppressing a smile as he watched her furrowed brow—she looked more and more adorable, and his heart grew ever happier.
Being cared for by the one he loved was Cheng Yishu’s greatest happiness, just like this moment…
“Where is it? Where’s the injury? Here?”
Cheng Yishu was still basking in the joy of being cherished, and hadn’t yet come back to his senses when Lin Xiaowen’s puzzled voice cut in.
She nearly examined his entire leg, which he claimed was hurting, but found not a trace of redness or swelling, much less any broken skin.
Though she did get a clear feel of the muscle contours…
“Well… maybe it’s an internal injury, not visible to the naked eye!” Cheng Yishu straightened his leg with an earnest look, quietly fixing his trouser leg himself.

Lin Xiaowen bit her lip and glared at him fiercely.
“Cheng Yishu, I can see you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? You’re not hurt at all, yet you fooled me, saying it hurts here and there!”
He was infuriating—did he not realize how worried she’d been when she heard he was injured?
“How can you joke about something like that?” Lin Xiaowen, indignant, yanked a cushion from behind her and hurled it at Cheng Yishu.
“Hey… ah…”
Cheng Yishu caught the cushion and grabbed Lin Xiaowen’s hand before she could find another “weapon,” pulling her into his arms and hurriedly pleading,
“Alright, alright… I know I was wrong, I shouldn’t have lied and made you worry. But I just wanted to see you so badly! And these days, you haven’t sent me a single message. Who knows if that old Mrs. Xu is setting you up on blind dates again, making you forget all about me…”
His words were half-joking, half-serious, with a truly aggrieved expression.
He looked so conflicted and contradictory that Lin Xiaowen almost couldn’t help but laugh.
“Is it that you lack confidence in yourself, or in me? Or do you really think I’m some stunning beauty or a wealthy heiress?”
Lin Xiaowen looked up at him, smiling slyly. “Relax, you’re the only one who doesn’t look down on me, treats me like a treasure. If it were anyone else, who would bother with me…”
“Who says so?”
Cheng Yishu interrupted, displeased. “To me, you’re the best, no one could ever compare!”
His words touched Lin Xiaowen, and she listened as he continued,
“It’s not that I lack confidence in you or us, but I don’t trust the complexities of this society…”
Cheng Yishu’s sudden seriousness caught Lin Xiaowen off guard.
“We never know what tomorrow will bring, so we’re always anxious, even if all we want is an ordinary life. Yet even that seems hard to attain…”
He spoke thoughtfully, gently stroking Lin Xiaowen’s hair as it fell behind her head. Holding the only woman who could calm him at moments like this, Cheng Yishu sighed deeply, unable to say more.
Sensing something was off, Lin Xiaowen looked up at him, seeing exhaustion and an indescribable uncertainty in his eyes.
“Yishu, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”
Lin Xiaowen asked cautiously. She knew that whatever troubled Cheng Yishu might not be something she could help with, but if she could be his listener, that would be enough…

Cheng Yishu looked down at the little woman in his arms, remembering how, when they first met, she was like a wild kitten—arrogant and fierce.
But as time passed, he realized those were merely defenses she used to protect herself and Ranran.
Really, what woman is truly invincible? It’s just that she hasn’t met the man who makes her soften.
And he was lucky enough to be the one she could lean on, so how could he show weakness in front of her?
“Nothing!”
Cheng Yishu smiled dotingly at her. “It’s just work is exhausting. I just want to be with you, doing nothing, just holding you quietly and daydreaming. That’s good enough.”
Hearing this, Lin Xiaowen finally relaxed.
Everyone has their own struggles and helplessness; Yishu was no exception, nor was she herself.
Lin Xiaowen sighed inwardly, nestling against Cheng Yishu’s chest, where his heartbeat was steady and strong, as if it gave her endless strength.
“Xiaowen, I told you after this film’s done, I’d take you and Ranran traveling, but… it might have to wait a bit longer.” Cheng Yishu said tentatively.
“That’s alright!”
Lin Xiaowen replied lazily, “Ranran has to start preschool soon anyway, so there’s no time for a trip… You, don’t always be thinking about fun. You need to focus on your work, understand?”
Distracted as she was, Lin Xiaowen had completely forgotten about the promised trip, so her answer suited her perfectly.
“Will Ranran be mad? I promised her I’d take her to see lots of little monkeys and giant pandas!” Cheng Yishu said softly.
Lin Xiaowen pressed her lips together, smiling. “You, Ranran is sensible. She wouldn’t throw a tantrum over something like this. I’ve noticed, most of the time, you’re even…”
“Even what?”
Cheng Yishu picked up on her meaning, feigning sternness as he demanded an answer.
Seeing him raise his brows in mock threat, Lin Xiaowen could only bite her lip, pretending to think seriously before saying,
“I think sometimes, you’re even more clingy than Ranran!”